Williams Makes Montverde A Threat In A-8 Tourney

February 25, 1986|By Joe Williams of the Sentinel staff

The stock in Montverde Academy's boys basketball program has risen over 26 points in recent weeks.

The addition of Eustis High School transfer Robert C. Williams has made Montverde a contender for the Class A, District 8 basketball tournament championship set this week at Orlando Lake Highland Prep.

Although the Eagles are seeded fifth in the tournament, the addition of Williams to an already potent offensive attack puts Montverde among the favorites.

Though the road looks bright for Williams and the Eagles now, it wasn't always that way.

Williams, whose basketball playing career at Eustis was marked with academic and discipline problems, withdrew from Eustis on Dec. 10. His mother decided to put him into a private school and checked Mount Dora Bible and Montverde before deciding on Montverde, Montverde president Walter Stephens said.

He started classes at Montverde on Jan. 6 and brought his grades up to academic eligibility standards set by the Florida High School Activities Association within two weeks. He then played against South Daytona Warner Christian and Pierson Taylor. Montverde won both games.

But then it was discovered that Williams was ineligible under FHSAA regulations for transfer students, which states a student must be enrolled in school for six weeks before he becomes eligible. Montverde notified Fred Rozelle, FHSAA executive secretary, and the school had to forfeit those two victories.

Stephens sent a detailed letter to Rozelle, and Rozelle mailed a reply back to Stephens, which said Williams would become eligible on Feb. 14. Williams' sixth week at Montverde ended on Feb. 13.

Montverde is currently on a six-game winning streak. Four of those victories have come since Williams has returned to the team.

''The important factor here was that we wanted him to get his high school diploma. We didn't even know at the time whether he would be able to play a basketball game for Montverde,'' Stephens said. ''He understands that according to our rules he will have to go to summer school at Montverde to receive his diploma.

''His decorum has been beyond reproach at Montverde so far.''

Stephens said Eustis High School was extremely cooperative in completing the transfer.

The recipient of this windfall is Montverde Coach Monty Boyd.

The addition of Williams has meant some changes in his alignment, but Boyd said the team has adjusted well.

''He's getting better and better every game, and the team is getting better and better,'' Boyd said. ''With these four kids Williams, Cubas, Vega, and Hardy you don't know who is going to score. We have some great balance.

''Sure we definitely have to be considered now. I know we are going into the tournament seeded No. 5, which means we will be in the same bracket as the No. 1 team Orlando Central Florida Academy, but I think we can give them a game.''